Arch support



Dec. 4, 1934. E, FULLER 1,982,911

ARCH SUPPORT Filed July 29, 1952 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 11 Claims.'

This invention relates generally to certain new and useful improvements in shoe construction or in appliances therefor designed for the corrective treatment of the foot and particularly to an arch support or brace.

Oneof the objects of the invention is the pro vision of an arch support which is constructed and designed to so support the arch as to stimulate the muscular action of the foot and toes and thereby effect the strengthening of the foot and correct any weakness or derangement in the main archor in the metatarsal portion of the foot. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe appliance of this character which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, which is designed to aiford comfort to the wearer while correcting the foot ailments, and whose parts are constructed of a material such as not to be affected by the moisture of the foot.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an arch support which is adjustable laterally relative to the foot so as to assume a position centrally thereof or in the vicinity of the outside or inside portion of the foot.

In the accompanying drawingz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved arch support, the supporting sheet or sole thereof being shown by dotted lines. Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the arch support. Figure 3 is central longitudinal section thereof taken on line 3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of my invention, the same being in a form for supporting the metatarsal arch. Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section taken on line 5-1-5, Figure 4.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1-3, inclusive, the numeral 10 indicates a sheet or insole element, preferably of leather, which is shaped to conform substantially to the sole of the shoe and which may be built into the shoe or be made a detachable part thereof. To

\ prevent the insole element from curling at its edges and preventing discomfort to the wearer, Ipreferably treat the edges in a manner to stiffen them to avoid curling. Applied to the underside of the front portion of the insole element in the vicinity of the matatarsal portion of the foot, is a metatarsal plate 11, preferably of metal, which is connected at its rear end, as by a pivot 12, to the insole element. As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the metatarsal plate is curved '55 or arched downwardly and forwardly from its .inwardly to form. a supporting portion of pivot to conform substantially to the curvature of the foot. The side edges of this plate diverge forwardly from its rear edge and are then curved comparatively large area.

Operatively associated with the metatarsal plate 11 are resilient supports preferably consisting of a main or posterior spring 13 and an anterior or metatarsal spring 14 which are so disposed relatively to each other to not only support the main or longitudinal arch of the foot but also to support the metatarsal portion of the foot, the main or posterior spring being arranged so that when the pressure of the foot is placed on the arch, the anterior spring is caused to rise slightly to effect a straightening out'or downgripping action of the toes to stimulate their muscular action and eifect a strengthening as well as a correction of the ailments of the foot. The main or posterior spring 13 is disposed substantially lengthwise along the bottom of the insole element 10, being slightly arched and secured at its rear end by a rivet or like fastener 15 to the sole element and at its front end by a rivet or like fastener 16 to the underside of the metatarsal plate 11, preferably at a point substantially centrally between the front and. rear edges thereof. The anterior ormetatarsal spring 14 is likewise disposed lengthwise of the insole element, being arranged between the opposing faces of the latter and the metatarsal plate 11 with its rear portion overhanging or in stepped-like'relation to the front portion of the posterior spring 13, as clearly shown in Figures land 3. This metatarsal spring may be connected at its rear end to the rivet 12 which joins the metatarsal plate 11 to the insole 10, that portion of the spring forwardly of its attaching end being arched upwardly over the metatarsal plate and contacting at its top side with the underside of the insole. The front edge of the metatarsal plate is rolled to prevent cutting of the inner sole of the shoe, and this roll is preferably formed by a tongue 17 projecting from the front edge of the plate and turned backwardly over the top face thereof to form a pocket 18 into which the front end of the metatarsal spring 14 is fitted.

By this arrangement of the posterior and anterior springs 13 and 14, respectively, the main arch of the foot is effectually supported and the metatarsal portion is similarly supported, the action of the posterior spring effecting the elevation of the anterior spring to exert a desired stimulating muscular action of the foot and the toes. 110

Furthermore, the pivotal connections of the metatarsal plate and metatarsal springs to the insole element by the rivet 12 and the pivotal connection of the metatarsal plate to the front end of the posterior spring 13 permits an adjustment of the parts laterally of the foot so that the metatarsal spring may assume a position centrally of the foot or along the outside or inside portion of the foot, as seen. by dotted lines in Figure 2, should such positionsbe desirable tosuita particular case.

In some cases it may be desirable to insert a pad between the metatarsal plate and the insole, and for this purpose I provide the metatarsal plate on its top side with anchoring neckslor pro-' jections 19 with which a pad or insert 20. is adapted to engage to prevent relative displacement of the pad. These anchoring necksare disposed by preference at the opposite side edges of the metatarsal spring 14 and constitute stops for preventing lateral displacement of the metatarsal spring.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, the same is intended solely as a metatarsal support and in this embodiment of the invention the posterior spring is eliminated, the metatarsal plate being indicated by the numeral ,2land the metatarsal spring being shown at 22. Both of theseelements are fastened at 23 to the insole or supporting element 24, and the plate 21 has anchoring necks 25 for detachably securing a building-up pad or insert 26, when'desired, between the plate and the insole. In this embodiment of the invention, the metatarsal plate 21 and spring 22 act to effectually support the metatarsal portion of the foot in a cushioned fashion, resulting in the strengthening of the foot by exercising the muscles affected.

The metatarsal plate as well as the anterior and posterior springs are preferably made of a rustless, stainless spring steel to not only provide the necessary resilience or cushioning action de sired, but also to render these parts unaffected by the moisture of the foot.

I claim as my invention:-

1. An arch support, comprising an anterior, metatarsal arch-supporting plate adapted for connection atone end toan insoleelement, and a spring overlying said plate and secured at one end to the connecting end of said plate.

2..An arch, support, comprising an anterior, metatarsal arch-supporting plate adapted .for connection at one end. to an insole element and providedat its opposite free end with a? retaining means, and .a flat spring overlying said. plate and attached at one end to the attaohing end ofthe plate, the other end of said spring engaging said plate-retaining means.

,3. An arch support, comprising a metatarsal plate, adapted. for. pivotal connection at oneend to an insolewelement. for adjustment laterally thereof, and a fiat spring in overlying arched relation to said plate and ,pivotally connected thereto at its pointof connection With the insole element. 7 I I v (i. An arch support, comprisinga metatarsal plate adapted for connection at one end to an insole element, the opposite end of said plate terminating in a pocket facing its connected end, anda fiat spring overlying said plate and connected at one end thereto and fitted at its opposite end in said pocket.

5. An arch support, comprising a metatarsal plate adapted for connection at its rear end to an insole element, the front end of said plate terminating in a reversely-bent tongue forming a, rearwardly-facing pocket, and a laterally adjustable flat spring disposed lengthwise of said plate in substantially arched relation thereto and pivotally connected at its rear end to said plate and fitted at its front end in said pocket-forming tongue.

6. A device of the character described, comprising an anterior metatarsal arch-supporting plate, and resilient arch supporting members overlying the top and bottom sides of said plate, the lower member being fixed at its front end to the medial portion of the plate and extending rearwardly bey nd the top member.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a metatarsal plate, and resilient arch supporting members overlying the top and bottom sides of said plate, saidmembers being'disposed in longitudinaloverlapping relation with the-bottom member abutting the plate intermediate its ends and acting when depressed to elevate the top memben' j 8. A device of the character dscribed, comprising a metatarsal plate, and resilient arch supporting members overlying the top and bottom sides of said plate, the top member being connected at its rear end to said plate, and disposed msubsta ntially arched relation over the same, and the bottom member being connected at its front end to said plate at apoint intermediate its front and rear ends and extending rearwardly beyond said plate.

. 9. An arch support, comprising an anterior metatarsalarch-supporting plate adapted for connection atits, rear end to an insole element, an anterior spring of flat metal disposed over the top side of said plate, and a posterior spring of flat metal disposed over the underside of said plate and projecting rearwardly therefrom, the front end of said posterior springbeing connected to saidplate ata point intermediateiits front and rear ends.

, lO.. An arch support, comprising a metatarsal plate having a pocket-like element at its front end, an. anterior arch supporting member of spring steel disposed over said plate and connected at its rear end thereto, the'front end of said memberengaging said pocket-like element, and a posterior arch supporting member of spring steel disposed beneath said plate and connected at its front end thereto at a point intermediate the front and rear endsof the platfilsaidfposterior member extending jrearwardly beyond the corresponding edge. of said plate. i

" 11.; An archsupporn comprising a. metatarsal plate. adapted for connectionv at its rear .end to an insole element, the front end of said plate havinglaterally spaced projections onlits top side, and a resilient archsupporting' element of spring steel disposed over the top side of said plateand connected at its rear end thereto the frontend of said arch supportingelement being disposed between said projections. j EARLE. FULLER. 

